No Matter What (The Billionaires of Sawgrass #4) - Delaney Cameron Page 0,53
To cover her embarrassment, she straightened the stack of glossy brochures sitting next to the register. “How does he like Australia?”
“According to his mother, he loves it.”
“Was she okay with him leaving?”
“She put on a brave face, but moms don’t like their only sons to move ten thousand miles away. It didn’t help that Wade dropped it on her with only a few weeks’ notice.”
Robin smiled faintly. “Yeah, it came as a surprise to me, too.”
“Is that why you br-…” He stopped abruptly, looking uncomfortable. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
“It’s not a big deal, Reece. The answer to your question is no. It could easily have been yes if something else hadn’t already made it irrelevant.”
“I see.”
She thought she knew what he was thinking. “It wasn’t my boat phobia either. Wade still doesn’t know about that. There’s irony for you.”
“Sometimes the things we worry about the most never materialize.” Reece jiggled the keys in his pocket. “I came here today for two reasons. The first is to apologize for not getting back with you about Owen’s tour of Diamond Jet.”
“That’s all right. I figured it was off because of what happened between me and Wade.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Why would you think that?”
“Family loyalty or something similar?”
“My loyalties stop short of letting anyone dictate who I can be friends with. I don’t know what your weekend looks like, but if you’re free Sunday afternoon, we could do the tour then.”
His inference that they were friends was gratifying, but Robin was more impressed that Reece intended to keep his word. “Sunday afternoon is fine. What time should we plan on being there?”
“Let’s say two. Give me a call when you’re on your way. I’ll tell you where to park.”
“Owen will be so excited when I tell him.”
He leaned against the counter, a spark of mischief visible in the bright blue of his eyes. “Just Owen, huh? I should have known. You’re so much harder to impress than the average girl.”
Robin just managed to keep a straight face. “My state of awe and anticipation go without saying. I’ll be the envy of every woman in Jax.”
“Not every woman. Even I have limitations.”
The shop door flew open, and Owen bolted inside. His much-loved Hulk t-shirt contained ample evidence of a recent visit to the ice cream parlor down the street. When he noticed who was standing across from Robin, a huge smile appeared on his face.
“Reece! You’re here! Guess what? I got a puppy. His name is Baxter.”
Owen was talking loud enough to be heard in the parking lot. Robin still hadn’t figured out why little boys were so noisy.
“That’s awesome, dude.” Reece held up his hand for a high five.
Owen quickly obliged. “We’re teaching Baxter to ring a bell by the door when he needs to go potty. It doesn’t always work. Sometimes he forgets and tinkles on the carpet.”
Reece nodded. “That happens a lot at first.”
“A lot is right,” Robin said. “Owen, darling, what did you do with Miles?”
* * * * *
Reece had thought things were going well until Robin said the name Miles. Talk about a momentum killer. Why hadn’t it occurred to him that she might be dating someone? It was a miscalculation as shortsighted as it could prove to be costly.
“Miles is talking on the phone,” Owen replied. “He told me to go on in.”
“Apparently neither of you knows what a napkin is.” Robin reached under the counter and pulled out a travel-size package of wipes. “Come over here and let me try to make you more presentable.” Owen didn’t look happy about it, but he walked around the counter and submitted to the indignity of having his face cleaned by someone other than himself. “There’s not much I can do about your shirt.”
Owen looked down at the object in question. “What’s wrong with my shirt?”
“Since when does Hulk have chocolate spots all over his face?”
The door behind them opened and a man walked in. He nodded at Reece and then addressed Robin.
“I need to run to the bank. The man who owns the guitar shop only takes cash.”
“I wish I could get away with that,” she said. “My customers love the convenience of paying with a credit card, but I hate the processing fees that come with it.” She turned to Reece. “I’m forgetting my manners. Reece, this is Miles Slater. Miles, this is Reece Diamond.”
“Nice to meet you, Reece,” Miles said.
“Same here. Is the guitar shop you mentioned Van’s Vintage?”